Slovenia has become the latest European Union country to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state after its parliament approved the move with a majority vote on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
This decision is part of a broader effort to exert pressure on Israel to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Prime Minister Robert Golob emphasized that the recognition sends hope to Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza.
The right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), the largest opposition party, had proposed a consultative referendum on the recognition bid, which would have delayed the vote. They argued that recognizing an independent Palestinian state at this time would reward the “terrorist organization Hamas.” However, the ruling coalition, which holds a majority in Slovenia’s 90-member parliament, dismissed the referendum proposal, and the recognition decision was approved with 52 votes in favor.
With this decision, Slovenia joins other EU countries such as Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria in recognizing a Palestinian state. Malta has also indicated that it may follow soon.
The recognition comes amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with significant casualties reported on both sides. Since the cross-border attack by militants on October 7, where around 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, Gaza health authorities report that over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing war over the past seven months.
